Machine for operating upon sheet material



Dec. 6, 1932. A. A. LAWSON MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SHEET MATERIALFiled Dec. 17. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. A. LAW$ONMACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SHEET MATERIAL Filed Dec. 17, 1931 Dec. 6,1932.

Dec. 6, 1932. A. A. LAWSON MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SHEET MATERIALFiled Dev. 17. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet VENTUR M W F WQ Patented Dec. 6, 1932Ar asM-m- FLNT Flmi';

AXEL ARNOLD LAYVSON, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOEMACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NET/V JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SHEET MATERIAL Application filedDecember 17, 1931. Serial No. 581,679.

This invention relates to machines for operating upon sheet material andis herein illustrated as embodied in a machine for punching soles.

In manufacturing shoes, the soles of which are attached to the upper bymeans of cemen soles may be advantageously located relatively to theirshoes for the sole attaching operation by mechanism, not invented by me,comprising gages which locate the forepart of the shoe relatively to thefore part of the sole and a gage operable to engage a hole in the heelend of the sole and to move he sole relatively to the shoe until amedian line of the sole is positioned along a median line of the bottomof the shoe. In order that the sole and shoe be accurately locatedrelatively to each other the hole in the outsole is advantageouslypositioned accurately along the median line of the heel end portion ofthe sole. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention toprovide an improved sole punching machine having mechanism. for locatinga sole to be punched in such a way that there will be produced in thesolo a hole which will be accurately located along the median line ofthe heel end of the sole.

To this end, and as illustrated, the invention contemplates theprovision in a machine for operating upon soles of a tool, illustratedas a reciprocating punch, and novel mechanism for positioning a solewith the median line of its heel end intersecting the axis of the tool.In the illustrated machine, there is provided a work-support mounted forrotation about an axis coincident with that of the tool, and gagescarried by the work-support and movable in conjunction with the worksupport to position a sole with its median line intersecting said axis,whereby the sole is accurately located for the performance of anoperation along said median line. Preferably and as illustrated, thegages comprise inner and outer pairs of gages, the outer gages normallybeing held in inoperative position sothat a sole can be readily insertedbetween the inner gages, and there being in the illustrated machinemanually controlled mechanismfor releasing the outer gages and forrotating the work-support to locate the sole relatively to the axis ofthe tool and subsequently to initiate an operation of the tool.

C-ther objects and features of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine illus trating one embodiment ofthe invention;

1 2 s a front elevation of atportion of the machine showing thework-support and gages; and

Big. 3 is a. plan View of a portion of the machine showing thework-support and gage mechanisms.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the machine comprises a frame 10 having anextension 12 in which is mounted a reciprocating punch 14, and a spacedextension 16 which carries a work-support or table 18 having therein afemale die 20 arranged for cooperation with the punch 14 to produceholes in work such a sole 22.

The punch 14 is carried by a slide 24 which is reciprocated in the frameextension 12 by a crank 26 on a rotary shaft 28 arranged to be driven bya fly-wheel 30 upon operation of clutch mechanism including lever .32under control of the operator.

The table 18 is conveniently mounted for rotation about the axis of thepunch 14. To this end the table comprises a head 34 which rests uponball bearings 36 supported upon a sleeve 38 through which extends aspindle 40 forming an integral part of the head. The table 18 has aportion 42 which extends forwardly be ond the end of the extension 16,and from which depends a bracket '44, the lower end of which surroundsthe lower end of the spindle 40 and is secured thereto by a setscrew 46.The entire table assembly is secured in fixed position heightwise of theframe by means of screws 48 which pass through enlarged openings 50 inflange 52 of the sleeve 38. Clearance space 54 is provided between thesleeve and the frame whereby the sleeve, and consequently the table canbe adjusted laterally of the axis of the punch 14 unch. The table has anopening56 extendmg axially therethrough to provide for the: removal'ofpunchings forced through the die The gages :for locating work relativelyto the punch 14 comprise inner gages 58 (Figs.

1 and 3) and outer gages 60. Theinner, gages 58 comprise arms 62 whichare plvoted on *studs 64 carried by the table 18, said arms beinginterengaged by means of circular racks 6'6 with the result that thegages 58 are movable simultaneously through equal distances laterally ofthe median line of the table which passes through the axis of the punch.The gages 58 are normally urged toward each other by a spring 68 securedto the table and extending into engagement with one of the arms. Theinner ends ofthe gages58 carry rolls 70 which facilitate the insertionof work, such as the sole 22, between the gages. The gages 58 operateinitiallyto engage the sole upon opposite sides at points near the endthereof and roughly to locate the sole with the, median line oftheheel-end thereof extending in the general direction of the medianline of the table. v

The outer gages 60 are pivotally carried by studs .72 upon the bracket44 (F1gs..2 and 3), the lower ends of the gages being interconnected byteeth 74 and 7 6 so that these gages also are movable simultaneouslythrough equal distances toward or away from the median line of the table18. The gages 60 are normally urged toward each other by a spring 7 8connecting them.. The upper ends of the gages 60 are curved, asindicated by reference characters 80, to provide for line -contactwiththe work regardless of the angularity of the work relatively to thegages.

The gages 60 are positioned to engage a solev upon opposite sides atpoints near the shank thereof.

outermost gages 60 are arranged to be held normally in inoperativeposition, that is,-

spread apart. To'this end the lowermost of the teeth 74 is arranged tobe engaged by a pin. 82 which extends through the bracket 44 and isnormally forced upwardly against the tooth 74 by a lever 84 pivotallymounted upon 1 the frame. The pin 82 and consequently the "gages 60 arearranged to be released by manually controlled mechanism to behereinafter described. V

For locating work longitudinally of the table 18 there is provided anend gage comprising an abutment 86 forming one end of :1

slide 88 mounted in a bracket 90 secured to the frame. In order to,determine the location of the abutment for soles of different shapes orsizes, the slide 88 is provided with a pin 92 and a knob 94, surroundingthe pin,

and'bywhich the gage can bemoved inwardly or outwardly ofv the axis ofthe die 20. The

} gage'is' arranged to be locked inadjusted position by means of a plate96, carried by the bracket 90, and having holes 98 for the reception ofthe knob 94 which is heldin'a selected hole by pressure of a spring 100.e

The plate 96 has a. forwardly extending portion 102 which constitutesastripper plate and which-is provided with an opening 104 through whichthe punch 14 operates.

Manually controlledmechanism is provided for releasing the gages 60prior to initiation of an operation of the clutch thereby to ensurelocation of the work by the gages prior to operation of the punch. Tothis end, the machine comprises a treadle 106 pivotally mounted upon theframe, and a link connection 108 pivotallysecured at its upper end to alever 110 mounted for. rotation upon a stud 112. The lever 110 carries acam 114 adapted to engage an adjustable pin 116 mounted upon the lever84. The lever 84 is normally held in raised position by a spring pressedplunger 118, thereby holding the gages 60 in inoperative position, butupon downward movement of the; treadle 106, against pressure of a spring120, the cam 114 moves' the lever 84 downwardly to release. the gages.-To provide for operation of the clutch, the control lever 32 isconnected to a link 122 having a rack 124 in mesh with teeth ;cientdepression of the treadle 106 an abutment 134 at the upper end of thelink 108 will engage the upper surface of the lever 128 and force thelever downwardly to initiate an operation of the clutch thereby to causea reciprocation of the punch 14. The distance 1 between the abutments132 and 184 ,is such that upon depression of the treadle there will besufficient delay between the release of gages 60 and the operation ofthe punch to ensure time for operation of the gages in locating the workupon thetable.

In the use of the machine, the operator places work such as a sole 22uponthe table 18 andforces the heel end of the sole between the gagerolls 70 until the rear endof-the sole contacts with the abutment. 86thus roughly locating the sole with the median line of the heel endextending along the central portion of the table. The treadle 106 isthen operated effecting the release of the outer gages 60 which moveinwardly toward the median line of the table to engage opposite sides ofthe heel end of the sole, During this operation the sole is held againstthe abutment 86 and as the gages 60 move inwardly, unless the sole isaccurately located with the center line thereof in substantialcoincidence with the center line of the table, one of such gages willengage the sole prior to the other gage, in which case the spring 78will move the table 18 angularly until the other gage 60 engages theopposite edge of the sole. During this angular movement gages 58 and 60will shift the heel end of the sole laterally until the sole is locatedwith its median line intersecting the axis of the die 20. therebyplacing it in operative position relatively to the die and to the punch14. Upon further depression of the treadle 106 the lever 128 will beoperated. to cause engagement of the clutch thereby to initiateoperation of the punch 14 to produce a hole in the sole. In operatingupon soles of dif ferent lengths the abutment 86 can be so adjusted bymeans of the knob 94 that the punched hole will be located along themedian line of the heel line of the solo at a predetermined distancefrom the rearmost end thereof.

Having described my invention, wnat I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine for operating upon soles comprising a reciprocating tool, aWork-support mounted for angular movement about the axis of the tool, apair of gages for engaging a sole positioned upon the work-support atpoints upon opposite sides of tie sole near one end thereof, a secondpair of gages for engaging opposite sides of the sole, and meansassociated with the last-mentioned pair of gages for moving thework-support angularly to locate the sole with a median line thereofintersecting the axis of the tool.

2. A machine for operating upon soles comprising a reciprocating tool, awork-support rotatable about the axis of the tool, a pair of gagesmounted upon the work-support for equal and opposite movement relativelyto a median line of the support, and means for rotating thework-supportto cause both gages to engage opposite sides of a solepositioned upon the work-support to locate the sole with a median linethereof coinciding with the median line of the work-support.

3. A machine for operating upon soles comprising a punch, a work-supportmounted for angular movement about the axis of the punch, a pair ofgages mounted upon the work-support for equal and opposite movementrelatively to a median line of the support passing through the axis ofthe punch for engaging opposite side portions ofia so le;

near one end thereof, a second pai'r. org ges. mounted upon theWork-support, outwardly, of the first-mentioned ages, andmeans as;

sociated with the seconcl mentioned gages for;

moving the work-support about, itsaxisin locating the sole with aomedianlinethereof coinciding with the median line of the work support. L 4-. Amachine for operating upon, soles,

comprising a reciprocating tool, awork sups port rotatable about theaxis of, the,tool,"a

pair of interconnecting gages carriedb ythe support and adapted toengage oppositesides of a. sole at points equidistant from a median lineof the support passing through said axis, and means for moving thesupport, angularly to ensure engagement of both gages with the sole.

5. A machine'for operating uponsoles com prising a punch, a tablemounted for rotationv about the axis of the punch, gages mounted. uponthe table for equal and opposite movement relatively to a medianline ofthe table, passing through the axis of the punch, andv means for movingthe gages and tableaiigu: larly tolocate a sole on the tablewithv a median line thereof coinciding with the median line of the table. i

6. A machine for operatingupon soles com prising a punch, a table.movable singularly about the axis of the punch, twolpaifrs or gagesmountedupon the table for equal and: opposite movement relatively toa'median. line of the table passing through said axis for engagingopposite sides of a sole positioned upon the table, means for vforcingthe gages of one pair of gages towardeach other opposite sides of thesole near one end there of, outer gages mounted upon the Work-supportand movable to engage opposite sides of the sole at points near theshank portion thereof, means for moving the gages and the work-supportangularly to locate the sole with a median line thereof intersecting theaxis of the tool, and a gage for locating the sole longitudinallyrelatively to the axis of the tool.

8. A machine for operating upon soles comprising a reciprocating tool, aWork-support mounted for angular movement about the axis of the tool,two pairs of gages mounted upon the work-support, the gages of each pairof gages being arranged for equal and oppo-. site movement relatively toa median line of the Work-support passing through the axis of the tool,means for urging the gages of one pair of gages toward eachother, meansfor :urging the gages of the second pair of gages toward eachother andfor causing angular O movement of the Work-support 1n locating the soleWith a median line thereof coinciding With the median line of theWork-support.

9. A machine for operatingupon soles comprising, a reciprocating tool, awork-support, inner and outer pairs of gages mounted upon thework-support,the gages of ea'chcpair of gages being movable to engageopposite sides of a 'sole upon the Work-support, means for urging thegagesof each pair of gages-toward each other, means operable normally tohold apart the outer gages, and means operable prior to an operation ofthe tool for y releasing the outer gages. f

10.' A machine for operatingupon soles comprising a frame, a punchmounted for reciprocation in the frame, a work-support mounted in theframe for rotation about the c 7 axis of the punch, a pair vofinterconnected 25 gages -mounted upon the Work-support for equalandopposite movement relatively to a median line of the worlz supportpassing through the axis of the punch, means for normally holding thegages apart in inoperative 39 position relatively to a sole positionedupon thewo'rk -support, manually controlled means for releasing thegages, and means for movingjthe gages and the Work-support angu--Tlarly"to locate the sole With a median line :3 5 thereof coincidingwith the median line of the work support'. V V In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name to this specification.

- AXEL ARNOLD LAWSON.

